Dexter Fowler painfully reminds the Cubs why he’s so valuable

Dexter Fowler knows how to deliver at the top of the batting order. In Game 7 of the World Series with the Chicago Cubs, he launched a lead-off home run against the Cleveland Indians to help his team win its first championship in 108 years.

Now with the St. Louis Cardinals – who opened a three-game series against the defending champs Friday in Chicago – it seems painfully fitting that just minutes after Fowler received his World Series ring from the Cubs, he homered in the first at-bat of the game.

Before the first pitch at Wrigley Field, Cubs Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward presented Fowler with his diamond-studded ring with roars from the crowd in the background before being joined by more of his former teammates.

Then to lead off the game for the Cards, Fowler drilled John Lackey’s 3-2 pitch deep into right field, reminding fans at Wrigley why he’s so good and those in St. Louis why he’s worth his $82.5 million, five-year deal.

Cubs fans kept it classy and still cheered for the player who helped their team end its century-long World Series drought.